City of Eastland Increases Water Rate

A water rate increase was discussed and regretfully approved by commissioners during the November Eastland City Commissioners’ meeting. The increase was necessary because of an increase in the water rate the City of Eastland pays to the Eastland County Water Supply District. Effective January 2019, the City of Eastland will pay $3.20 per 1,000 gallons of water. This is a 19.85% increase over the present rate of $2.67. The City approved raising the base rate for water for residential customers inside the city limits to $43.44 which includes the first 2,000 gallons of water. This is a 7% increase ($2.84) over the current base rate of $40.60. The base rate for water ($43.44), sewer ($44.08) and garbage ($17.93), including sales tax for garbage ($1.48) will now be $106.93 up from $104.09. The new rates will begin with the December 20th billing and will appear on January’s water bill.

In other business during the November meeting…
After serving as City Attorney since 1999, Lois Rockefeller officially announced her upcoming retirement. Upon Lois’ recommendation, the City Commission approved appointing Eileen Hayman as the new city attorney. Eileen Hayman was appointed assistant city attorney in June, 2017 and has recently been handling most of the city’s business as Lois has phased out of the firm. Lois Rockefeller will be available if needed until the end of the year.

Commissioners authorized the Eastland Economic Development Inc. (EEDI) purchase of property owned by Mike Batteas. The 8 acres is on the north I-20 Access Road and adjoins the east end of the EEDI business park. The property was purchased for $240,000. An existing loan at the airport will be refinanced with this purchase added into it. The loan will be extended but the payments will be the same and there will be no penalty to pay the loan off early. The loan will also change the payments from quarterly to monthly to save interest.

Also approved was the sale of 1.559 acres to Blake Fulenwider for $45,000. This property is adjacent to the property they had previously purchased from the EEDI to build their new showroom. The sale is the same price per acre as the purchase price per acre on the Batteas deal.

In October residential property on Hwy 6 was zoned “C2″/General Business District because it was annexed into the city limits with other business properties. During this November meeting commissioners approved Ordinance No 18-843 that would rezone those properties, 11.625 acres, as “AO”/Agricultural Open Space District, allowing the property to be used as it was prior to the annexation.

7 Responses to "City of Eastland Increases Water Rate"

By the way, has anyone seen or asked how construction on our new sewer plant is coming along after a 50% rate hike on our sewer bill?

joe trout December 6, 2018 at 6:55 AM

gotta pay for all those city vehicles driving all over town.

Eddie Palmer December 5, 2018 at 8:57 AM

The failure to invest in the water utility infrastructure over the years has caused much of this issue. You can maintain a system if you ignore the maintenance and required upgrades. Ignoring that which you can not see (underground utility lines, treatment facilities, etc.) you only make things worse because inflation and the price of oil have sky rocketed prices.

April Crossland December 5, 2018 at 7:53 AM

this is outrageous!!! I live in Plano and for a family of 5 my water bill NEVER EVER even got to $90!! Think about that! showers, laundry, dishes, watering the yard, kids playing in the water, washing cars! yet some of my family who may be ONE person in the entire house pays more than me??!! This is wrong and something needs to be done!

Jacque Walraven December 4, 2018 at 10:26 PM

Ridiculous!!!!!! Another increase? This is ridiculous. What happened? As we were all increased 25.00 now another increase? Where is all the extra money going? Just as I stated before 25.00 times how many local residents on city water and now this increase times number of local residents…lot of extra monies going somewhere don’t ya think. RIDICULOUS

Tammy Riehle December 4, 2018 at 9:33 PM

This upsets me greatly. We have several older people on fixed incomes, how are they to keep paying all these hikes in the bills.
I myself am in a fixed income, I think we should only pay for what we use.
For the last week there has been a water leak on the corner of Hill and Dixie and it still hasn’t been fixed.
I feel people will start moving if prices keep going up.

George lyle December 4, 2018 at 6:50 PM

Gosh, we just had a $25 increase to all customers in Eastland County this year and now another 7% coming. I believe we have one of the highest water bills around.